im new to the camaro industry and im looking for a third gen i am currently considering a 91 rs which i know doesnt come stock with the 350 tpi. however, the seller says its a 350 and for all i know it could have been an engine swap. All i can tell by the picture he sent is that it has a tpi. but gm also put out a 305 tpi for the RS version so how can i tell if it is a 350 or 305 w/o looking at the vin number.

 

Welcome aboard thirdgen.org.

The factory never put a 350 in the RS, and no TPI in the RS. See https://www.thirdgen.org/1991-chevy-camaro .

The 305 TBI may have been replaced with a 350 TBI, or even a 350 TPI. But, TBI vs. TPI is very obvious - the TBI has an air cleaner that looks like a carb air cleaner, TPI doesn't have an air cleaner over the engine. 305 vs. 350 is a little more subtle -the only way to know for sure is to get the casting # off of the block and heads. The last 3 digits of the block casting # are usually cast into the side of the block under the heads. To get the head casting #, you have to pull the valve covers.

 

the car im looking at has a vin number 1G1FP2383ML123694 which when i checked it said that it was a z28 the owner clains it is an rs here is a link to the ad http://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/cto/1058018908.html however in the picture he has purple ground affects so i am assuming that it was in an accident and he replaced the ground affects carfax said it had 24 hits any any feedback on if this is shady or not would be helpfull. thanks

 

If it is an RS, it was NOT built with a 5.7L nor with TPI. On '86 and later blocks, you can look down behind the driver's side cylinder head and the displacement will be cast into the block. You should see 5.0LG. That's the 305.

 

From the pictures it's clearly a TPI engine. But, it also has RS badges. The "8" for the eighth character of the VIN matches 350 TPI.

This isn't adding up.

 

i know thats what i was thinking when i saw the "8" too. If you google the whole VIN it shows up as a z28 so i think he must have used some ground affects off a purple camaro. which leads me to belive it was in an accident. in any case i dont think he knows what type of car he has.

 

B4C edition cars could come with the 350 TPI or the 305 TPI and still be RS cars. Check the option codes.

 

Seems we have a B4C camaro on our hands here. In that case, rare find and you should snag it up.

Check the RPO sheet in the rear glove box. Is there a "B4C" and "1LE"?

 

if it is a B4C camaro would the vin number say that it is a z28? i dont know anything about the B4C's. but i may be wrong in the assumption that the vin number would recognize it as a B4C and not a z28.

 

I'm thinking the same thing... the B4C was a Z28 dressed up (down?) as an RS. Thats probably the case here.

 

so how can i know for sure it is a B4C by looking ? pics diagrams of what to look for

 

You need to look at the RPO code list. If it has a B4C option code in the list, then it is legit. B4C is a Z28 with RS badges. It was only offered to police and government agencies. They are pretty rare. in 1991 there were only about 600 made. So go check it out. It could be a real find. I have a 1992 right now. here is a pic of mine. By the way this might be one that I have owned. PM me with your # and I can tell you what i know about it if its mine. you can also check and see it has rear disc brakes. all 1991 350 camaro's have them.

 

the vin will say its a z28. when the insurance company runs the vin they will be charging you for a z too.

 

im a little new to this so i'm not that sure what or where the RPO code list is.

 

the rpo code list can either be in the glovebox between the two fron seats or it can be in the rear cargo compartment (the one that needs the key)

 

Not all police package B4Cs had 1LE.